Outlet-fitting



R. B. slim/umm, OUTLET FITTING.

APPLICTION FILED JUNE 28,'1915.

Patented Got. 25, 1921.l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

RE'UBEN BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TQ BENJAMIN ELECTRICMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLI-NOIS.

OUTLET-FITTING.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a. citizen of the United States,residinnf at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented newA and useful Improvements in Outlet-Fittings, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

'My invention relates to outlet fittings.

One of the objects of m invention is to provide a fitting which wi lhave improved means for making electrical connection with the outlet andsupporting a lamp device such as a sh'ade or other fixture.

In the drawings, in which I have shown several embodiments of myinvention- Figure 1 is an axial section of an outlet box in which thecover is supported by a strap secured to theconduit,v and in which aspecial connector for supporting a xture having a stem support andmaking electrical connection with the conduit is provided;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing center and sidecontacts of the connector and the manner in which they are secured onthe base;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing thearrangementof the binding plates;

Fig. 4 is an axial section of the modification in which the outlet boxcover is secured to the' ears of the outlet box and is provided with athreaded connector for supporting a lamp shade or' other device, anornamental cover also being provided; and

Fig. 5 is an axial section showing my inventionin connection with aconnector for supporting a fixture having a chain support.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and iirst to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,I have here shown my invention in connection with an outlet box 10having an opening 11 therein through which extends a Iconduit 12 formingan outlet for the feed circuit. The outlet box is secured in place vbymeans of a nut 13 threadedon the end of the conduit. A lstrap 14 forsupporting the outlet box cover has an opening throughwhich the end ofthe conduit extends and isl held in place on the conduit by'means of anut 15. The cover 16is held in place on the conduit by means of screws17 threaded inthe ends of the strap 14." Secured to the coverSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed .Tune 28, 1915.` Serial No. 36,819.

1.6 is a supporting member 18 which may be of sheet metal threaded at 19to engage a suitable connector 'and reduced, as shown at 20, to form ashoulder for engagement with the shoulder of a receptacle, and flangedover as shown at 21 ,to secure it in place on the cover `16. Areinforcing washer 22 may be provided to strengthen the connectionbetween the member 18 and the cover 16. The member 18 is provided withan insulating base 26a, which base is provided with a flange or shoulder27 in en- I gagement with the shoulder 20 of the member 18 and isrecessed at 28 to receive the spring tongues 23 which hold thereceptacle in position. The receptacle is provided with suitable bindingterminals 28a.` Supported by the member 18 is a combination connectorandsupporting device 29 having a U-shaped spring center contact. 30 forengagement with the center contact of the receptacle, an insulating base`portion 31 for supporting the center contact, side contacts 32 forengagement with .the shell contact 26 of the receptacle, bindingterminals 33 .and 34 for the lamp connection, an insulating base portion35 for supporting the side contacts and binding terminals, and amechanical connecting device 36 for connecting a lamp fixture having astem support with the supporting member 18. The mechanical. connectingdevice 36 comprises a threaded :shell portion 37 for engaging thethreaded portion 19 of the member 18, a bushing 38 for engagement withthe threaded end 38a of a stem for supporting a lamp fixture such as anelectrolier, and a cup member 39 in which the insulating base 35 isseated and to which the threaded shell is connected. The base portion 31is recessed at its upper end as shown at 40 to receive the centercontact 30 (which is held in place on the base portion by means of ahollow rivet or eyelet 41. The center contact 30is electricallyconnected to the binding plate 42 by means of a screw 43 which alsoserves to hold the two base portions 31 and 35 together. The bindingplate 42 is held in place on the base portion 35 by means of a screw 44and is provided with a binding screw 45 for connection with one of theconductors leading to the lamp.

Each side contact 32 comprises a spring tongue portion 46 seated in arecess 47 in the base 31, and a base portion 48 seated in a recess 49 inthe portion 35. Theseside contacts 32 are both electrically connected toa yoke shaped binding plate 50 by means of screws 51 having their headsseated in recesses 52 in the base 35, these screws extending throughopenings 52a in the base portions 48 of .the side contacts and beingthreaded into the binding plate '50. A binding screw 53 is provided forconnection with the other conductor leading to the lamp.

The cup member 39 isA providedwith an outwardly extending flange 54 overwhich the lower end of the threaded member 37 is flanged, as shown at55. The bushing 38l is provided with a hexagonal flange 56 which islocated in a hexagonal recess 57 in the base portion 35.\ The cup member39 may be .flanged over as shown at 58 beneath the flange 56 tostrengthen the connection between the bushing and cup member. F orholding the'base portion 35 in position in the cup member 39 a retainingmember 59 is provided which may be a split sheet metal ring having aninwardly extending flange portion 60vfor engagement with the upper faceof the base 35.` The threaded member 37 is flanged over as shown at 61to hold the retaining member 59 after it has been slipped into place. Y

The use and operation of the device of this modification is as follows:The receptacle 24 is slipped in place within the supporting member 18,the spring tongues 23 yielding to permit this and snapping into place inthe recesses 28 when the receptacle 1s properly positioned.Thef'eedwires are then connected to the binding terminals 28a of thereceptacle 24 after which the cover 16 carrying the receptacle issecured in place on the outlet box by means of lthe screws 17. Any lamplixture having a threaded stem supported such as 38a is connected withthe bushing 38'by threading the stem 38a therein.. The terminals 33 and34 are then wired and the base portions 31 and'35 se-l cured'together bymeans of the screw 43. The retaining ring 59 is then slipped into placeto hold the base 35 in position in the cup 39. A member, capableofrotary movement and including the parts 54, 55 and 37, is threaded asshown at-37 to provide fas` tening means operable upon a rotary movementof said member to co-act with threaded portion 19 to mechanicallyconnect the fixture to the outlet box cover. As the shell portion 37 isscrewed into the vthreaded portion 19 the side contacts 32 and centercontact 30 will be brought into contact .with the center and shellcontacts25 and 26 of the receptacle 24 to complete" the electricalconnection between the outlet and the fixture. The circuit will be fromthe center contact 25 to the contact 30, screw 43, binding plate 42,binding screw 45, lamp circuit, binding screw 53, binding plate 50 andside contacts 32 to the threaded shell contact 26 of the receptacle.4

In the modification of Fig. 4 I have shown my invention in connectionwith an outlet box 62 having a cover 63 which may be of sheet steelwhich is connected to the outlet box by means of screws 64 extendingthrough openings in the cover and threaded into the ears 65 of theoutlet box. The cover 63 has an opening 66 through which extends thereduced portion 67 of a supporting device 68 which has a portion flangedover above the cover of the outlet box to hold the supporting device 68in place. The supporting device has a threaded portion 70 forsupportinganysuitable lamp device, such kas a lamp shade, and isprovided with stamped up tongues 71 for holding a receptacle in place.The receptacle used with this device may be similar in all respects tothe receptacle 24 ofthe modification of Fig. 1. An ornamental cover 72is provided having an opening 73 therein to receive the threaded portion70 of the lsupporting device 68. This cover 72 is slit adjacent theopehing 73, on'e edge ofthe slit being bent up and the other being bentdown, as shown at 74 to cause the edge of the opening 73 to assume ahelical shape to conform to the threads on the threaded portion 70. A

'shade 75 having a threaded neck portion 76 is 'secured to thesupporting member 68, the

upper edge of which neck portion 76 may be flanged inwardly as shown at77 for engagement with the flange 27 on the receptacle 24. The use ofthe device of this modification is as follows:

The receptacle 24 is slipped in place within the supporting device 68Vand the feedl wires from the outlet are connected thereto. The cover 63is then secured to the outlet box by means of the screws 64; theornamental cover 72 is then screwed into placer after which the shade isattached.

In Fig. 5 I have'shown my invention in connection with a supportingdevice 78 for a chain supported lamp fixture. This supi In the claims,where the expression lamp fixture device is used, it will be understoodto-include, but not in limitation, refiectors, shade-holders, shades,electroliers, etc.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecurev by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, aconnector device adjacent to an electrical outlet, comprising aninsulating base, and a wiring terminal supported thereby, and 'a contactalso supported thereby for engagement with the contact of a coperatinconnector device, said contact being e ectrically connected to Saidwiring terminal, a cover forv said outlet provided with an annularconnecting member, and a supporting device having an annular portion formaking connection with said member, and a" portion for holding said basein position with respect to said outlet, said supporting device beingalso' provided with means for mechanically supporting a lampv fixturedevice.

2. A connector device provided with means for mounting it adjacent anelectrical out- Y let comprising an insulating base, a wiring terminalsupported thereby, a contact also supported thereby for engagement withthe contact of a coperating connector device, said contact beingelectrically connected with said wiring terminal, a cover for saidoutlet having an annular connecting portion, and ay an annularporsupporting device havin tion for making connection with said firstportion, and a portion for holding said base in position with respect tosaid outlet, a cup-shaped member supported by said second annularportion, and a lamp fixture supported by said cup-shaped member.

3. An outlet fitting comprising an outlet cover, an electrical connectordevice located adjacent Said cover, including an insulating base and acontact supported byvsaid base for engagement with the contact of a coofa plug having a contact for engaging the receptacle contact, and having`a wiring terminal for the fixture wire, and common supporting meansJfor supporting the plug and fixture in position with respect to thereceptacle, comprising a ring swiveled with respect to said plug andfixture, said receptacle having a contact member extending into saidswivel ring. i

5. The combination with an electric lamp fixture and a receptacle havinga contact, of a plug having a contact for engaging the receptaclecontact, and having a wiring terminal for the fixture wire, and commonsupporting means for supporting the plug and fixture in position withrespect to the receptacle, comprising a ring swiveled with respect tosaid plug and fixture, said receptacle having an insulating housing forthe receptacle contact extending into said ring.

6. The combination with an outlet box cover having an opening therein, areceptacle having its outer face substantially fiush with said opening,and an .electric light! ing fixture, of a plug having contacts forengaging the receptacle contacts, and having wirin terminals for thewires of the lighting `Xture, and common supporting means for supportingsaid plug and fixture in position with respect to said receptacle,comprising a swivel ring swiveled with respect to said plug and fixture,and extending into and engaging the opening in the cover. n

7. The combination with a receptacle hav- ,ing a contact, and a fixture,of a plug having a contact for engaging the receptacle contact, andhaving a wiring terminal for the wire for the fixture, and commonsupporting means for supporting the plug and fixture in position withrespect to the receptacle, comprising a fixed annular connector membersurrounding said receptacle and spaced therefrom, and a swivel ringswiveled with respect to said plug and fixture, and extending into theannular space between sai-d fixed annular member and said receptacle,and detachably connected with said fixed annular member. Y

8. The combination with an electric lamp fixture and a receptacle havinga contact,

of a plug having a contact for engaging the receptacle contact, andhaving a wiring terminal for the .fixture wire, and common supportingmeans for supporting the j,

plug and fixture in position with respect to the receptacle, comprisinga ring swiveled with respect to said plug, said receptacle having aninsulating housing forv the receptacle-contact extending into said ring.

9. The combination with a receptacle having a contact, anda fixture, ofa plugA having a contact for engaging the receptacle contact, and havinga wiring terminal vfor the fixture, and common supporting means forsupporting the plug and fixture in position with respect to thereceptacle,

comprising a fixed annular connector member surrounding said receptacleand spaced therefrom, and a ring swiveled with respect to said plug andextending into the annular space between said fixed annular member andsaid receptacle, and detachably connectevdl with said fixed annularmember.

l0. The combination With an'electric lamp fixture and a receptaclehaving a Contact,

of a plug havinga contact for engaging the receptacle contact, andhaving a Wiring terminal for the fixture Wire, and supporting meansforsupportng the plug and fiX- ture in position with respect to thereceptacle, comprising a member including connecting means operable upona rotary movement of said member, said receptacle having an insulatinghousing for the receptacle Contact surrounded by said connecting meansWhen the parts are connected.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

